XENIA, Ohio.-- A classic postseason pitcher's duel came down to one pitch--a curve left in the zone--and ended up as the seventh straight conference tournament opener win for GVSU, as designated hitter Austin LaDoux turned on a high breaking ball and sent it out over the left field fence for a two-run home run in the fourth inning. That was all the run support needed by Laker starter Ryan Arnold, as his splendid effort held Wayne State in check on the way to a 2-1 victory at Grady's Field on Thursday. Up next for the Lakers is a 5:30 p.m matchup against Tiffin, who defeated Walsh 3-2 on Thursday evening. 

Arnold (6-2) and Wayne State's Chris Horvath battled throughout the game, with Horvath pitching 8.2 innings of four-hit ball and made just the one costly mistake to LaDoux in taking the loss. Arnold was similarly impressive on the mound in response, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out five in seven innings. The lone Warrior run came after a close call at the plate with two outs gave the Warriors a base run via base on balls, and the first of two Warrior hits, a double down the right field line, drove in the Warrior to give Wayne State the lead. 

In the top of the fourth, the first of two major miscues for the Warriors saw Matt Williams reach second on a throwing error from the third baseman, who sailed a throw over the head of the first baseman in the attempt to throw out Williams on a grounder. Williams then advanced further into scoring position via a wild pitch by Horvath, who then served up a hanging pitch to LaDoux on a 2-2 count. LaDoux's seventh home run of the year put the Lakers out to a 2-1 lead, which Arnold protected until the eighth inning, when he handed the ball off to Williams for a save situation. 

Williams promptly induced a groundout and two fly outs to close out the eighth inning, then got a foul out and two strikeouts in the ninth to close the game for his ninth save of the season. The save had historical importance, as it gave Williams the 39th save of his career, which ties former Laker Brad Zambron's Division II record for career saves.